On 15 August 1947 upon the independence of India, the Nawab of Junagarh decided to merge it into newly formed Pakistan.[1] The Indian government maintained the people of Junagadh should decide. Pakistan waited until 13 September to respond saying they accepted Junagarh's acceptance of Pakistani rule.[1] This caused a general revolt among the Hindu majority of Junagadh as well as protest movements in the surrounding states that had acceded to join India.[1] The Nawab then occupied territory in several of those states claiming he had rule over them. When the Indian government sent a small force to restore order, the Nawab fled to Pakistan. His Dewan (Prime minister) agreed to rule by India.[1] This resulted in the integration of Junagadh into India.[2]

Many in Pakistan still maintains the 1948 plebiscite and rule by India was an illegitimate action.[5] One of the reasons is because Kashmir at the time was ruled by a Hindu but had a clear Muslim majority.[5] By acceding to India it was the opposite of the situation in Junagadh.[5]

For its part India knew Junagadh was the premier state in the westernKathiawar region. It was bound on three sides by states that acceded to India.[6] On the fourth side was bounded by the Arabian Sea. This gave it great strategic importance to both countries. India was not prepared to accept Junagadh's acceding to Pakistan.[6] This would create a Pakistan state in the middle of Indian states. India's taking administrative control of Junagadh to restore order is seen as a pretext by Pakistan.[6] The referendum taken by the people of Junagadh, under the control of the Indian army, was overwhelmingly in favor of Indian rule.[6] Pakistan has never accepted this vote by the people there and believes Junagadh rightly belongs to them.[6]